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Mido ready for Middlesbrough leadership role

After his scoring debut at Fulham, new Middlesbrough striker Mido is ready to take on a leadership role at the Riverside.

"I believe the football player who wants to hide doesn't deserve to play football," he said. "I will never hide - that is my character, that is how I was brought up. I take responsibility and sometimes you do well, sometimes not.

"Everyone was a leader against Fulham, even the young lads. They were fighting for every ball and they were talking. But they needed someone to lift them up and I helped do that.

"It was amazing the reaction after we conceded the goal and we deserved to win."

Mido completed his transfer from White Hart Lane last week and was desperate to feature at Craven Cottage - despite his lack of fitness.

"When you score goals on your debut it's always important. But what people don't know is that I haven't played a game since April," he said.

"It is very difficult to play a game after four or five months of inactivity. I didn't have any friendlies in pre-season so I'm delighted and very pleased with my goal and the win.

"There is nothing better in football than if you are losing 1-0 and you change the result and win, especially in an away game."